FRONT COVER

AXTrackerAn Inexpensive Satellite Transmitterfor Sensing Changes at Remote Locations

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest Service

Technology &DevelopmentProgram

2400 Reforestation2500 WSA5300 LEI7300 FacilitiesJune 20050524-2802-MTDC

i

AXTrackerAn Inexpensive Satellite Transmitterfor Sensing Changes at Remote Locations

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest Service

Technology &DevelopmentProgram

2400 Reforestation2500 WSA5300 LEI7300 FacilitiesJune 20050524-2802-MTDC

The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone except its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this document is for the information and convenience of the reader, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA̓ s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Gary Kees, Project Leader

Andy Trent, Project Leader

USDA Forest ServiceTechnology and Development ProgramMissoula, MT

2E22E56—Remote Data Collection System

June 2005

ii

Introduction __________________________________________1

AXTracker Transmitter ________________________________2

Features of the AXTracker ______________________________3

Field Applications _____________________________________4 Environmental Monitoring _____________________________4 Remote Facility Alarm Notification ______________________5 Vehicle Tracking _____________________________________5

Configuring the AXTracker _____________________________6

Downloading Transmitted Information ___________________7

Accessory Hardware and Software Information ____________8

Conclusions _________________________________________10

Sources and Contacts _________________________________11

Contents

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Introduction

Remote real-time monitoring of environmental condi-tions or events is important to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. For example, silviculturists need to monitor soil or air temperature

at remote planting sites. Law enforcement officers may need to monitor remote facilities or other sites for intrusions. Many different types of sensors have been developed to monitor these types of events, but receiving the data or notifications from the sensors in real time sometimes proves difficult or costly. In areas where remote radio transmission and cellular phone coverage are unavailable or impractical, satellite telem-

• Devices that transmit alarms or environ-

mental information using satellites can be

helpful in remote locations.

• At least one such device (the AXTracker) is

relatively easy to operate and reasonably

inexpensive.

• One potential use might be to monitor snow

depth and soil temperature when preparing

to plant trees at remote locations.

etry is the only viable option for transmitting information. Several satellite service providers offer hardware and

services for gathering information remotely. The cost of the equipment and monthly fees may render these systems unaffordable for many tasks.

During a market search for low-cost, real-time remote telemetry systems, the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) found a low-cost satellite telemetry system called the AXTracker. This device may meet the needs of many Forest Service personnel for relatively low-cost, remote monitoring of a variety of sensors.

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The AXTracker (figure 1) is a battery-operated, self-contained telemetry device designed to communicate using the Globalstar satellite network. It can provide cost-efficient, reliable location and monitoring reports

from nearly anywhere. The unit is fully programmable and

AXTracker Transmitter

Figure 1—The AXTracker satellite telemetry system manufactured by Axonn LLC can track assets, sense temperatures, and transmit a variety of alarms indicating that a switch is on or off.—Photo by Scott Quillin, Axonn LLC

can handle up to four alarm inputs. All the components, including the built-in antenna are in a 6- by 9- by 1-inch environmental enclosure. Battery life can range from 3 to 8 years, depending on how many reports are sent per day. The AXTracker sends information on a user-programmed schedule or when an alarm event occurs.

The information can be communicated in several ways. First, the data are sent over the Globalstar satellite network to a separate service provider (often called a back-office provider) where the information can be displayed on a Web site for viewing or retrieval. Alternatively, the service provider can retransmit global positioning system (GPS), motion, temperature, or alarm data over the Internet as an e-mail message or as a text message to a cellular phone or pager. A second option is to use special service providers that function like burglar- or fire-alarm call centers. They receive data and make regular voice calls to you and others you select on a cascading call list.

The AXTracker transmitter costs $349. Service providers who process information from the AXTracker typically charge fees of $3 to $4 per month plus 20 to 25 cents per report from the AXTracker for processing and displaying the information. Typically, providers charge a $30 to $50 one-time activation fee per unit. Such costs are economical for someone who will receive one or two reports per day or less frequently for an abnormal or alarm situation, such as for an opened door or window, a motor that has turned on or off, or a temperature or water level that is excessively high or low. The AXTracker includes an integrated motion sensor, which is valuable for tracking movement or an unauthorized person trying to move something that has an AXTracker hidden inside (such as a valuable piece of equipment). The AXTracker can send a notification when it crosses a predetermined boundary (known as a geofence).

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• 3- to 8-year battery life (depending on the number of reports per day)

• Operating environment temperature ranges from -40 to 176 °F (-40 to 80 oC)

• GPS position tracking• Motion detection alarm• Programmable using a personal computer or Palm personal

digital assistant• Dual- or single-temperature sensor (optional)• High- or low-temperature alarm• Weatherproof enclosure meeting the National Electrical

Manufacturerʼs Association 4X standard• Programmable report intervals (30 minutes to 45 days)

or time-of-day schedules (12 sequential triggers)

Features of the AXTracker• Programmable delay before the AXTracker turns on or

push-button control to turn it on• Switch (dry contact) alarm modes (opened or closed)• On and off indication and alarms• Geofence operation (signaling an alarm when the unit

leaves programmed boundaries)• Internal antenna (standard), external antenna (optional)• Transmitter size, 6 ½ inches wide by 9 ½ inches deep by

1 inch tall• 8.75 bytes of user data without GPS, 2.75 bytes with

GPS readout• Axonn simplex modem, compatible with the Globalstar

satellite system• One-way communication• I/O port to configure the device

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The AXTracker was originally developed to report GPS location and provide alarm notifications for cargo trucks. Besides vehicle location, the AXTracker was designed to have various sensors or alarms to track

vehicle conditions, such as temperature and the status of doors (open or closed). These sensors and alarms can serve different purposes. For instance, the AXTracker could be used to monitor environmental conditions, such as water levels and soil, water, and air temperatures or for alarm notifications at remote facilities. Temperature is the only environmental sensor that has been configured for the AXTracker, but any alarm sensor with an on/off contact could trigger the device.

Field Applications

Environmental Monitoring Monitoring remote sites can be expensive and potentially hazardous. For example, when planting sites are being moni-tored for reforestation, several trips to the planting site may be needed to ensure that the snow has melted and soil temp-erature and moisture are optimum for successful planting. Depending on the location of the planting site, these trips may be time consuming and also difficult or dangerous.

The AXTracker system with the dual temperature probe can be an inexpensive method of monitoring planting sites remotely. One temperature probe can be placed just under the soil surface to monitor soil temperature. The other sensor can be mounted just above the soil surface to monitor snowmelt (figure 2). When snow surrounds the upper sensor, the temper-ature should stay at about 32 oF. As the snow melts, exposing

Figure 2—Two AXTrackers, one measuring temperatures just under the soil surface and another measuring temperatures just above the surface, can provide an inexpensive method for tracking soil temperature and snowmelt in remote regions.

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the sensor, temperatures should range above and below 32 oF. MTDC conducted successful field tests of temperature sensors to monitor snowmelt during the winter and spring of 2004.

The AXTracker can be programmed to send a report at specific intervals (from 15 minutes to 45 days) or to send an alarm at a programmed temperature. Either approach can help keep transmission costs low. Figure 3 shows a typical Web page with a temperature table and location information

from an AXTracker. This is just one example of using the AXTracker for environmental monitoring. Any environmental sensor with an on/off contact or alarm could be used to mon-itor conditions in the environment.

Remote Facility Alarm NotificationMany of the 40,000 buildings and other facilities in the National Forest System are in remote areas where normal very high frequency (VHF) radio or cellular systems are unavailable

Field Applications

Figure 3—This graph shows the daily low, average, and high temperatures for a temperature probe at the surface of the ground. The sensor was exposed until a snowstorm in early December when the low, average, and high temperatures were essentially equal. The snow melted in late February, exposing the sensor to daily variations in temperature with this installation. The AxTracker did not accurately measure air temperature because the probes were exposed to direct sunlight.

1 7 13 19 25 31 6 12 18 24 30 5 11 17 23 1 7

110100908070605040302-1--

–10

December January February March

Tem

pera

ture

(°F)

Temperature profile recorded fromDecember 1, 2004 to March 8, 2005

AverageLowHigh

or unreliable. Such facilities may include municipal water-sheds, electronic sites, dams, pipelines, powerlines, tank farms, fee collection sites, bridges, and gates. In remote areas, the AXTracker can provide a relatively inexpensive means for communicating any activity discernible by a sensor back to the appropriate forest office or employee. These activities include intrusions, thefts, broken water pipes—other possi-bilities are limited only by your imagination.

Vehicle Tracking Because the AXTracker was developed as a fleet management tool, it is well suited for tracking Forest Service vehicles. A vehicleʼs GPS coordinates can be transmitted at regular intervals or in connection with a certain event, such as when the back door of the vehicle opens, or when the vehicle starts or stops moving. It is easy to configure one alarm input as a “panic” button that transmits a distress signal, along with GPS coordinates. Another input can be configured to transmit a restore or All okay signal.

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Software provided with the AXTracker (PDA/PC Tool), is used with a personal data assistant (PDA) or personal computer (PC) when configuring the AXTracker. The PC or PDA must be connected to the AXTracker with

the proper cable. The PDA/PC Tool software allows the user to configure various transmission modes, start delays, alarm settings, GPS settings, temperature limits, motion sensors, override commands, and various other options. Many pro-grams can be configured and saved for various applications.

Configuring the AXTrackerOnce the program is configured on the PDA or PC, it is downloaded to the AXTracker with the program command.

The PDA/PC Tool Run button commands the AXTracker to run the downloaded program. The AXTracker also can be activated in the field with the optional field commissioning cable. Programs can be downloaded from the AXTracker to the PDA or PC and saved. Many other configuration options are covered in the AXTracker ownerʼs manual.

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Data are transmitted from the AXTracker to a service provider who transforms the information into a new format that is downloadable to the Web, e-mail, or phone. These service providers offer various hard-

ware and downloading services. The providers work with each customer to ensure the transmitted information is

Downloading Transmitted Information downloaded in the required format. Some providers offer a complete package of services and will match the correct hardware to the job at hand. The list of providers (also known as value-added resellers or VARs) is available at http://www. axtracker.com/VARs/var.html.

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Palm PDA Programming Kit—The Palm program-ming kit (figure 4) allows the user to program and run the AXTracker using a Palm PDA. The price of the kit includes the PDA device and associated cable. The cable can be purchased separately.

Accessory Hardware and Software Information

Figure 4—The Palm programming package offers a simple method for configuring and running AXTracker programs. The package includes the Palm personal digital assistant and a cable that connects it to the AXTracker.—Photo by Scott Quillin, Axonn LLC

Figure 5—A USB (universal serial bus) cable allows the user to configure and run the AXTracker program from a desktop or laptop PC.

USB Serial Programming Cable—The USB cable (figure 5) allows the user to configure and run AX-Tracker programs from a PC. A PC is little more cumbersome in the

field, but it may be a cheaper option for users who donʼt have a Palm PDA.

Field Commissioning Cable—The field commis-sioning cable (figure 6) allows the user to trigger or run the AXTracker without a PC or PDA. This option may be redundant because most Forest Service employees have access to a laptop PC or PDA.

Figure 6—After an AXTracker has been programmed, a field commissioning cable allows an operator to trigger or run the AXTracker in the field.—Photo by Scott Quillin, Axonn LLC

Figure 7—Single- or dual- (shown) sensors record low, high, and average temperatures.—Photo by Scott Quillin, Axonn LLC

Temperature Probe—Temperature probes (figure 7) report a range of –67 to 212 °F (–55 to 100 oC). Temperature

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Figure 9—Four smart sensors can be attached to the 6-foot bare wire cable.—Photo by Scott Quillin, Axonn LLC

Figure 8—A magnetic switch or another type of on/off switch attached to a bare wire cable (figure 9) can trigger a signal or alarm indicating whether the switch is open or closed.—Photo by Scott Quillin, Axonn LLC

transmissions can be configured to read temperatures at a specific time and interval (from 15 minutes to 45 days) or to trigger an alarm at a user-defined temperature. The cable is 6 feet long and comes with one or two (dual) temperature sensors. A new temperature probe design is being developed, so the specifications may change.

Magnetic Switch Door Alarm—This magnetic switch (figure 8) allows surveillance of doors or windows, or other things that are either open or closed. The user can program the switch to indicate an alarm when the switch is in the open or closed position.

Bare Wire Alarm Cable—This 6-foot-long cable (figure 9) allows the user to connect up to four smart sensors that function as on and off switches or other alarm sensors to the bare ends of the cable that attaches to the AXTracker unit. The cable includes a 10-pin connector that attaches to the AXTracker interface port.

AXTracker Equipment Price List (2004 prices)

Accessory Hardware and Software Information

Equipment Part Number Cost (dollars)

Transmitter 2100–0159–08 349

Palm programming kit

(includes PDA) 1800–0102–01 495

USB serial programming cable 1800–0102–02 149

Field commissioning cable 1800–0102–03 69

Temperature probe (single sensor) 1800–0102–14 75

Temperature probe (dual sensors) 1800–0102–15 125

Magnetic switch door alarm

(6-foot cable) 1800–0102–06 69

Bare wire alarm (6-foot) cable 1800–0102–07 35

Battery pack (replacement) 1800–0102–08 59

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The AXTracker is a relatively low-cost satellite telem-etry system that can transmit monitoring information from remote locations. While other satellite telemetry systems may be more robust and handle more sophis-

ticated sensors and larger data packets (to provide more

Conclusions

information than the simple on/off data packet), the AXTracker can provide simple monitoring and reporting at a reasonable cost. The range of applications for the AXTracker depends not only on the type of sensors needed, but on user creativity.

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The AXTracker and accessories are available from:Axonn LLC2021 Lakeshore DriveNew Orleans, LA 70122http://www.axonn.comContact: Scott Quillin, Project Engineer504–282–8119, ext. 207

Information about service providers is available at:http://www.axtracker.com/VARs/var.html

Sources and Contacts

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NotesNotes

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Notes

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Notes

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Gary Kees is a project leader specializing in reforesta-tion and nurseries, facilities, recreation, and GPS projects at MTDC. He received his bachelorʼs degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Idaho. Before coming to MTDC in 2002, Gary worked for the Monsanto Co. in Soda Springs, ID, as a mechanical/structural engineer and project manager.

About the Authors

Andy Trent is a project engineer at MTDC. He received his bachelorʼs degree in mechanical engineering from Montana State University in 1989. Before coming to MTDC in 1996, he worked as a civilian engineer for the U.S. Navy. Andy works on projects in the nurseries and reforestation, forest health protection, and watershed, soil, and air programs.

Library Card

Kees, Gary; Trent, Andy. 2005. AXTracker: an inexpen-sive satellite transmitter for sensing changes at remote locations. Tech Tip 0524–2802–MTDC. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Missoula Tech-nology and Development Center. 14 p.

In remote areas, radio transmissions and cellular phone coverage may be unreliable. In such areas, satellite telemetry can be used to monitor environmental conditions, such as temperature, conditions at facilities, and the status of intrusion sensors. Two temperature sensors, one just under the soil surface and one just above the surface, can be used to deter-mine when snow has melted at remote locations and when the soil temperature may be suitable for planting trees. The

cost of hardware and monthly fees can make some means of satellite telemetry unaffordable. The AXTracker transmitter, which communicates using the Globalstar satellite network, is a relatively inexpensive device that can be used for reliable location and monitoring reports from nearly anywhere. The unit is fully programmable and can handle up to four alarm inputs. All the components, including the built-in antenna, fit in a 6- by 9- by 1-inch enclosure. Battery life can range from 3 to 8 years, depending on how many reports are sent each day.

Keywords: alarms, Axonn, facilities, Globalstar, GPS, planting, reforestation, remote sensing, surveillance, telemetry, temperature

Additional single copies of this document may be ordered from:USDA FS, Missoula Technology and Development Center5785 Hwy. 10 WestMissoula, MT 59808–9361 Phone: 406–329–3978Fax: 406–329–3719E-mail: wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us

Electronic copies of MTDCʼs documents are available on the Internet at:http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/ (Username: t-d, Password: t-d)

Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management employ-ees can search a more complete collection of MTDCʼs documents, videos, and CDs on their internal computer networks at:http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/search/

For additional information about the AXTracker, contact Gary Kees or Andy Trent at MTDC.Gary Kees Andy TrentPhone: 406–829–6753 Phone: 406–329–3912Fax: 406–329–3719 Fax: 406–329–3719E-mail: gkees@fs.fed.us E-mail: atrent@fs.fed.us